WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.480 It's been an interesting series as we travel through this, looking at the fruit of the Holy 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:14.620 Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:00:15.380 --> 00:00:24.260 And this, so often we can skate over the issue of hardship. That hardships come, and I think it's 00:00:24.260 --> 00:00:29.339 quite right that at this point in the series, it's good to talk about this because none of us 00:00:29.339 --> 00:00:36.240 are immune from the hardships that come from being a Christian. As John said, you know, it's 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:43.240 tough for many now to live out their Christian faith, probably not within our communities in 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:50.719 the world, but often it is. And Paul is saying, don't put a stumbling block in anyone's path. 00:00:51.219 --> 00:00:56.679 And I was challenged with this when I was reading this because I have to ask myself, where am I 00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:02.979 the stumbling block? Where is it within my character? Where is it, if I'm not living within 00:01:02.979 --> 00:01:10.280 this, that people would look at lifestyle, look at me, and think, what is there that prevents 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:19.019 others from coming into relationship with the Lord? I was taken through this. Two things I 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:25.479 really would want to say is that Scripture, as we sung in that hymn, which was really helpful, 00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:31.959 truths unchanged from the dawn of time that will echo through eternity. And I do believe going back 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:38.719 again and again back to the Bible is a huge answer for us to stick close to Scripture, especially when 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:46.439 hardships come, and it's so hard. As I was thinking about this whole series, I stumbled upon thinking 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:55.799 about those who came from West Africa as slaves. And probably one of the things that I hold on to, 00:01:55.879 --> 00:02:00.459 which really touches me greatly when it comes to hardships, is the black church in America. 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:08.759 The black church in America that has grown through because out of hardship, but their deep, deep faith 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:15.360 and reliance on Jesus. And I think, again, there's something to think about today of when we don't know 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:22.080 our need of God, then we don't know our need of God. You need to know your need of God. Because when we 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:28.740 need to know our need of God, then we actually know that God is there for us, even in the tough times. 00:02:30.100 --> 00:02:36.580 I'm going to show you a little clip, which really I hope you find inspiring as I did, because there's 00:02:36.580 --> 00:02:42.340 something about those spirituals that really seem to touch my soul. And it speaks to me a lot about 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:48.280 where that has come from, from the hardships of a whole race of people. Thanks. 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:56.280 Did you know all, just about all Negro spirituals are written on the black notes of the piano? 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:02.439 This is absolutely true. You can go home tonight and play almost any Negro spiritual, 00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:08.099 just play the black notes on the piano. You look skeptical. Now, you can't see it out there, 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:16.879 but I want you to watch. Watch. There are five black notes on the piano. And those same five black notes 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:22.840 just keep recurring. And you can go home tonight and play almost any Negro spiritual, 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:25.699 just play the black notes. Watch. 00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:44.339 You know that? Every time I feel the spirit, just black notes. Watch this. 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:58.300 That's because the slaves didn't come to America with do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, de, do. That's somebody else's scale, okay? 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:05.939 All they had in their musical scale were those five black notes. We know it in music as the pentatonic scale. 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:11.500 And they built the power and pathos of the Negro spiritual on five notes. 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:18.199 When you study music, you also come across what are known as white spirituals. Did you know that? 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:25.879 And they are white composers who worked with those, that scale. In early America, they used to call this the slave scale. 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:33.399 And I'm going to play for you what some musicologists think is the most famous white spiritual built on the slave scale, 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:34.839 or just the black notes. 00:04:35.939 --> 00:05:05.920 I'm going to play for you. 00:05:05.939 --> 00:05:26.199 Anybody tonight know who wrote that song? 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:30.560 I heard it. I heard it. A man by the name of John Newton. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:34.899 But do you know what John Newton did before he became a Christian? 00:05:35.159 --> 00:05:38.519 He was the captain of a slave ship. 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:45.579 And many believe heard this melody that sounds very much like a West African sorrow chant. 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:54.939 And wrote the words amazing grace and said his words to a slave melody. 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:59.019 I looked up that song. 00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:11.419 I believe God wanted that song written just the way it was written, just so that we would be reminded that as Christians, whether black or white, free or bond, in his eyes, we're all connected. 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:12.420 We are connected. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:13.560 We are connected. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:13.620 And we are connected. 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:14.560 And we are connected. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.400 And we are connected by God's amazing grace. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:18.879 Hallelujah! 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:24.699 We are connected by God's amazing grace. 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:25.699 Woo! 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:32.540 I looked up that song in the Library of Congress. 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:34.500 I went to the Library of Congress. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:35.560 I looked up that song. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:39.040 And wherever you see it authentically printed, you know what it says? 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:42.180 Words, John Newton. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:45.800 Melody, unknown. 00:06:47.540 --> 00:06:51.220 I tell the Lord, when I get to heaven, I want to meet Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:53.379 But boy, I want to meet that slave called unknown. 00:06:58.459 --> 00:07:03.399 There's something about where we are rooted and knowing our need of God. 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:14.699 And hardships in our spiritual life draw us to the point of our heartbeat of our faith and our journey and our relationship with Jesus. 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:25.519 And often we find that when we're facing hardships, that is one of the things where when life comes at us fast, when events can take us by surprise, 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:32.699 when hardships often force us to ask God some tough questions, for some they are tempted to turn away. 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:34.539 And turn their back. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:39.779 Because we know where our help comes from. 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:44.719 And our help comes in the name of the Lord and in that relationship. 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:47.339 Pause and look at this reading. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:53.439 And perhaps 2 Corinthians tells us more about the man, the character of Paul, than any other books in the Bible. 00:07:53.579 --> 00:07:54.459 It's quite dynamic. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:58.699 And here he is extolling to the Corinthian church about stickability. 00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:03.479 And Paul talks openly about his life and what it looks like. 00:08:03.539 --> 00:08:09.439 And for many people looking outside and many people looking at us, they may see it looks like a life defeated. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:11.500 And totally contrary. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:14.919 It is a life that Paul sees as a life that is victorious. 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:19.279 And the life that he is living and in the struggles that he has untaken. 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:26.299 And there is a word which in the original text, and somebody will correct me, but it sounds like hupermone. 00:08:26.619 --> 00:08:29.979 But it actually is translated as endurance. 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:41.240 And the fact there is this enduring spirit that comes from the Lord to help us through, to be with us, to be alongside us, 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:46.980 is exactly that from all those fruits of the Spirit to help us through times of hardship. 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:53.500 It's a very weak translation because the original wording is more than endurance. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:09:04.620 It encompasses things like courage, bravery, power, strength, the frame of mind which characterises Paul's ability to endure. 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:11.440 While pondering on the greatness of God's power in the midst of his torrents and troubles. 00:09:11.659 --> 00:09:14.419 And many of us will have known that. 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:17.259 And many of us will know that now. 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:20.200 As to what that is like. 00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:23.360 Why is Paul telling the Corinthians church this? 00:09:23.820 --> 00:09:24.379 Look at me. 00:09:24.500 --> 00:09:25.639 Look how good I am. 00:09:26.340 --> 00:09:27.600 Look how well I deal with this. 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:28.720 No, he's not. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:35.000 The context that he is saying is because the early church had the propensity to get easily diverted. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:40.100 And I don't know whether that resonates for you in your own personal life. 00:09:40.160 --> 00:09:41.720 It certainly does for me as well. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:48.259 And also I believe in the life of the church that we can so easily get diverted by small things 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:52.639 which take us away from this strength that God has for us. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:55.820 And knowing our need and rooting in God. 00:09:55.820 --> 00:10:01.940 And I guess many of us wouldn't dare to compare any of our issues with Paul's life. 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:05.379 Being flogged, in prison, close to death. 00:10:05.780 --> 00:10:10.560 Speaking out, preaching under the threat of death. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:16.100 And many of us will know when life presses in and hardships come and they are various. 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:17.379 They are cumulative. 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:19.140 It's a bit like buses. 00:10:19.420 --> 00:10:20.840 You know, they don't come for a long time. 00:10:21.040 --> 00:10:22.720 And then they all come at the same time. 00:10:22.800 --> 00:10:23.780 People are nodding at me. 00:10:24.040 --> 00:10:25.600 You know what that looks like. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:26.779 In our own lives. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.920 And Paul speaks of the power that is in his life. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:33.720 And the power of the spirit that helps him endure. 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:36.040 But talks about the ministry. 00:10:36.540 --> 00:10:38.420 Not about his own personal ministry. 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:41.100 But the ministry of that of the church. 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:47.980 About how together we stand and support one another in those times. 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:50.300 Paul isn't saying woe is me. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:53.859 He connects his own personal life with the gospel. 00:10:53.859 --> 00:10:55.059 To keep the ministry. 00:10:55.059 --> 00:11:00.479 To make sure that nothing gets in the way of that. 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:05.800 Paul is saying woe is God's hope. 00:11:05.800 --> 00:11:10.000 And God's hope and God's grace. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.779 Paul had an obsession. 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:14.159 That God loved all people. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:16.100 That God loved all people. 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:22.139 And that he had been called to represent the message of reconciliation to all people. 00:11:23.179 --> 00:11:24.480 Do we feel that? 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:29.159 Or is it about me and I? 00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:31.019 Or about us? 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:36.899 And how we can share that with a waiting world that we are waiting to make contact with. 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:39.559 And to be honest as we said in fact earlier. 00:11:39.939 --> 00:11:40.939 That people are hungry. 00:11:41.319 --> 00:11:42.319 People follow Jesus. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:45.279 And then found out they were hungry for more of what he wanted. 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.500 That message is not how we do church. 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:50.759 Or the personal rules we keep. 00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:52.639 Or our own personal preferences. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.139 Our message is Jesus Christ. 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:58.519 Our message always will be Jesus Christ. 00:11:59.199 --> 00:12:00.039 That will be it. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:02.199 That is the thing that we will hold on to. 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:05.159 I pray that's the thing that I hold on to. 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:06.659 When we sing that hymn. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:06.959 You know. 00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:08.779 And when my strength is failing. 00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:12.159 I pray that is what I will hold on to. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:13.240 Is Jesus Christ. 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:16.419 And that will depend on how deep our rooting has gone. 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:19.459 And where our rooting is now in Jesus. 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:24.699 And Paul wasn't about introducing people into a like me, like my church culture. 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:27.339 I think that's pretty clear from this morning's culture. 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:29.839 I mean who would want to buy into what Paul is doing? 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:33.240 But there is this sense of Paul is saying. 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:34.959 Look not away from me. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:36.379 But look to your rooting. 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:39.720 Because when the storm comes. 00:12:39.780 --> 00:12:40.639 When it comes. 00:12:40.900 --> 00:12:42.980 It will depend on how far we sway. 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:45.700 And whether we fall over as to how deep our rooting is. 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:48.519 The saving power of Jesus. 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:49.680 Which is essential. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:50.759 Most powerful. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:51.980 Most awesome message. 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:55.620 That so often gets lost in the mush of the everyday life. 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.660 And certainly with our struggles. 00:12:57.820 --> 00:12:59.120 I recall a few years ago. 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:00.240 On a Sunday morning. 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:01.500 Listening to Radio 4. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.259 You may listen to it in the morning as well. 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:03.340 Well. 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:04.539 It's a bit. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:05.639 Yeah. 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.360 It's good. 00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:08.019 It gives an overview of the church. 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:09.919 It's a bit like reading the church times. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.519 But it's a bit more encouraging. 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.659 And this. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:16.220 I heard as I laid there in the morning. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:22.019 How the flower arrangers in a certain cathedral. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:25.940 Had decided to boycott the church. 00:13:27.560 --> 00:13:28.639 And I laid there. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:29.139 And I think. 00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:30.300 Sorry. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:33.740 How can you boycott the church? 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.460 Over whatever issue that might have been. 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:39.259 How can you walk away? 00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:40.920 And yet. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.120 Time and time again. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.019 I meet people. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:44.220 Who walk away. 00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:46.400 I didn't like the hymns. 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.759 I didn't like the way this was done. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.220 I didn't like the way coffee was done. 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:49.860 You know. 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:51.379 People walk away. 00:13:52.160 --> 00:13:52.600 And yet. 00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:54.480 The essential is Jesus Christ. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:56.180 That is what we're here for. 00:13:56.400 --> 00:13:57.259 That is where it is. 00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:58.700 And that's where our rooting is. 00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.700 And if our rooting is. 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:01.720 Then no wonder we're going to keel over. 00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:04.360 If all of our own personal preferences. 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:06.900 Is just wrapped up in who we are. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.780 And not in the strength of who we are called to be. 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:10.900 And where we are. 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:14.660 And no wonder that Paul won people for Christ. 00:14:14.780 --> 00:14:16.259 By his endurance for the gospel. 00:14:16.400 --> 00:14:19.259 He pointed people to the giver of help. 00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:22.560 He pointed people to where that rooting can come from. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:24.540 He pointed people to that point. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.980 Not by saying look at me. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:28.259 But saying this is where our rooting goes deeper. 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:31.179 And so in all of this. 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:33.059 This isn't just a fluffiness. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:35.139 This fruit of the spirit. 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:37.960 Isn't just like a fluffy candy floss thing. 00:14:38.340 --> 00:14:41.200 It is actually the rooting of who we are. 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.179 In Jesus. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.559 And all that he did for us. 00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.720 I think it was this time next year. 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.279 Yeah. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.460 It was this time last year. 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:53.759 That's probably for many of you here. 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:55.120 You will know what this is like. 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:56.919 But I had come to that point. 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.819 Where you know. 00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:59.580 There's things that crushes cars. 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:02.560 That's what it felt like with my life. 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.560 I'd gone. 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:06.440 We'd undergone a whole thing. 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:06.700 You know. 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:09.260 Talk about everything coming at you at once. 00:15:09.800 --> 00:15:13.080 And that's exactly how it felt like. 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:16.420 And it was one night. 00:15:16.419 --> 00:15:18.360 I was reading a night prayer. 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.799 I don't know whether you do night prayer. 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:20.439 Compline. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.039 It's a great thing to do. 00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:23.419 Just look it up. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.839 Read Compline at night. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.899 It's a great way to go off to sleep. 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.719 And be at peace with your soul. 00:15:29.219 --> 00:15:30.079 Clear up everything. 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.899 And start the day well. 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.879 The next day. 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.539 And I was fragile. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.779 I was close to breaking. 00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:37.839 And I read this scripture. 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:40.839 This happened to be the scripture that came in. 00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:41.939 And there was a mystic. 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.579 The footnote. 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.839 John Christostrum. 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:45.399 Or however you pronounce it. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:47.100 The dark night of the soul bloke. 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.459 And there was a footnote that said. 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:52.939 Paul didn't allow any stumbling block to hinder his ministry. 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:59.960 It is the courageous and triumphant ability to pass the breaking point and not to break. 00:16:01.300 --> 00:16:05.760 To pass the breaking point but not to break. 00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:10.040 And always greet the unseen with a cheer. 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:16.260 It is the alchemy which transmutes tribulation into strength and glory. 00:16:17.260 --> 00:16:20.640 And sometimes we have to go to that point beyond breaking. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:26.179 To really experience what the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is in our life. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:29.159 I guess some of us know that. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:32.419 I guess some of us might be there now. 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:37.659 But to know that God doesn't leave us or desert us. 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:40.939 Or ever forsake us at that point. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:45.600 Jesus will never. 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:48.460 I had this picture of you. 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:51.320 You've got the Holman Hunt picture. 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.980 Behold I stand at the door and knock. 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:55.060 What a great picture that is. 00:16:55.540 --> 00:16:57.780 We've been doing a thing on Monday night with about questions. 00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:59.820 It's been resonating with quite a few people. 00:17:00.400 --> 00:17:01.940 And Jesus has stood at this door. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:03.480 It's all ivy all over the place. 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:05.079 It's got the light of the world. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:08.640 And you notice there's no handball on the outside of the door. 00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:10.620 The choice is for us. 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:11.920 To open it. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.319 And let Jesus in. 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:16.599 And that may open a little bit or whatever. 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:17.579 I had this picture. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:22.139 Maybe of the door opening. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.960 And Jesus just about to step in. 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:25.000 And the door slams. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:29.000 Again and again and again. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:32.460 And as I had this picture. 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:34.299 I thought there was two things. 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:37.579 One is Jesus will never give up waiting. 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:41.859 He will never give up waiting to come in. 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.420 And secondly. 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:46.359 In amongst of all the pain and hardships. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.920 He is longing to come in. 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:51.440 And join us at the heart of our struggle. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.259 Whatever that might look like. 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:56.460 That is what a lot of people need to know. 00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:01.119 Hardships will bring change through endurance. 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:05.779 Nothing diverted our black brethren. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:08.900 From the struggle in which they had. 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.420 They knew their need of God. 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.379 And I pray this morning. 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:14.400 That in this series. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.980 Whatever place we are with. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:19.400 In our journey with him. 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:24.519 That we will not only embrace our hardships. 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:28.019 But also we will turn to the giver of help. 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:30.080 That we will know our routine. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.519 That we will know our need of God. 00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:35.200 And that will make us stronger. 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:38.300 One of the main privileges. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.940 And one of the great privileges. 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:41.400 With this role. 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.340 And with this collar. 00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:44.620 Is that you spend a lot of time with people. 00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:46.140 In their final moments. 00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:48.220 In their final days. 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:51.140 And I didn't bring it with me. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.600 But there is a little holding cross. 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.200 That I have. 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:55.120 Which I think has been in the hands. 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:56.140 Of numerous people. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.960 As they have gone home. 00:18:58.120 --> 00:18:58.819 To be with the Lord. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.880 And there is something. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.880 About a strength. 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.720 In Christianity. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.460 When we know our hope in Jesus. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:09.039 When we stand in that hope. 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:11.160 When we know that hope. 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:13.339 But also for us. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.660 To be alongside those who don't. 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:19.160 We know that we will be. 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:19.980 Bringers of hope. 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.200 I pray that we will be. 00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:23.080 Bringers of love. 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.779 That we will be. 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:24.720 Bringers of joy. 00:19:25.040 --> 00:19:25.980 Of joy. 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:26.500 Peace. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.019 Patience. 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:27.560 Kindness. 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:27.940 Goodness. 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:28.620 Faithfulness. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.480 Gentleness. 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.519 And self-control. 00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:32.580 And that we too. 00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:34.140 In the weeks. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:34.980 The days. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.240 And the years to come. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.820 Would grow our deeper roots. 00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:39.759 Into Jesus. 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:42.000 So that we can be that voice. 00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:43.140 We can be that melody. 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:44.960 To a waiting world. 00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.700 Who need to know the grace. 00:19:46.800 --> 00:19:47.380 And love of God. 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:48.460 Amen. 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:48.560 Amen.